Punch for loose-leaf binders



July 20, 1948. w. F. KLEMM PUNCH FOR LOOSE-LEAF BINDRS Filed Jan. 2o,1945 IMM-- Patented July 20, 1948 PUNCH FOR LOOSE-LEAF BINDERS WilliamF. Klemm, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 20, 1945, Serial No. 573,673

Olaims.

This invention relates to punching devices fOI loose-leaf binders andparticularly to a punching device made from a single piece of materialwhich is attachable to a cover of a loose-leaf binder for punching holesin the paper conforming to the spacing, number and size of the rings onwhich the paper is supported.

It has been the practice heretofore to provide loose-leaf binders withdifferent types and numbers of rings which are spaced varying distancesapart thereby requiring different types of punching devices for punchingholes in the paper which is to be applied to the binders. Separateadjustable types of punching devices have been provided in which anumber of punching elements were adjusted to desired spacing so that theelements could be arranged to punch holes in paper for various types ofbinders.

The present invention contemplates the use of an inexpensive butpositively operating punching device which is attached to and made apermanent part of each loose-leaf binder. The punching device is madefrom a single piece of sheet stock which has a certain amount ofresiliency thereto so as not to take a permanent set when slightlydeflected. This may be cold rolled steel, brass, steel alloy, plastic,resin, or any sheet material having slight spring characteristics. Thedevice may be molded from moldable material into desired form or may bestamped from stock and bent back upon itself to have a web portion alongone edge from which superimposed bottom and top flanges project.

Accordingly, the main objects of this invention are: to provide apunching device as a unit part of a loose-leaf binder; to form a unitpunching device from suitable material which has guiding means forlocating the sheet in the device and for guiding the sheet over thepunching elements; to form a punching device from spring material havingtop and bottom flanges on one of which projecting elements are providedmated with die elements located on the other for punching holes in paperwhen the top fiange is deflected down- Wardly toward the bottom flange;and in general to provide a punching device for a loose-leaf binderwhich is simple in construction, positive in operation and economical ofmanufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will bespecifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for abetter understanding of the invention, to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 isa perspective view of a loose-lea binder having a punching devicethereon embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the punch illustrated and attached tothe loose-leaf binder of Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is an edge View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 2, taken on the line 4--4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View of the structure illustrated inFig. 2, taken on the line 5-5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of the structure illustrated inFig. 2, taken on the line 6-6 thereof, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of structure similar to that illustrated inFig. 6, showing a different form of the invention.

Referring to the figures, a punching device I0 is illustrated attachedto the inner surface of the cover II of a loose-leaf binder I2 ofconventional form. While the punch Il) is illustrated as being mountedin this manner, it is to be understood that the punch may be mounted atany other convenient place on the binder, on the outer face of thecover, on the rings in the center of the binder, or at any otherconvenient point.

As illustrated more specifically in Figs. 2 to 5, the punch Ill embodiesa strip of material which is herein illustrated as having been formedand stamped to provide a bottom ilange I3, an arcuate web portion I 4,and a top flange I5. Any sheet material may be employed which hassuicient resiliency to maintain its form when the top flange isdeflected toward the bott-om flange sumciently to punch holes in a sheetof paper disposed therebetween. The bottom flange has punching elementsI6 formed therein by drawing flanged apertures upwardly therein, asillustrated more specifically in Fig. 6. The top flange I5 has dimpledareas II containing an aperture I8 which is aligned with the punchingelement I B and forms a cutting die for forcing the paper downwardlyover the element. Any number of the 3 punching elements I6 and aperturesI8 may be provided in the length of the ilanges I3 and I5, spaced apartamounts conforming to the number and spacing of the rings I9 of theloose-leaf binder I2.

Projecting from the right-hand end of the bottom flange I3, as viewed inthe Figs. 2 and 3, is a guide element 2| having an upwardly projectingstop flange 22 which positions the top edge 23 of a sheet of paper 24 inthe punch. Aligned projecting fingers 25 are struck from the top andbottom flanges I3 and I5 to provide locating means for the rear edge 26of the sheet of paper 24 for spacing the punch holes a predetermineddistancefrom the rear edge of the sheet. On each side. of the punchingelements I6, locating members 23 are formed by lancing the lower flangeto provide strips which are offset upwardly.

from the plane of the flange I3 toa height equal to, or slightly above,that of the punch elements I6. The members 28 guide the sheet of paperover the top of the punch elements when being inserted between theflanges I3 and I5 of the punch. Y

Stop projections 29, aligned with the guide elements 28, may be offsetin the top flange I5 for limiting the degree of deflection of the topflange and preventing the over-straining of the niaterial forming thepunch, A plurality of'aper1v tures 3| may be provided in the lowerflange I3 by which the punch is secured by rivets or other means 32 tothe cover II of the loose--leaf'binden It vis to be understood thatother means maybe employed; such as struck-out tongues, in the lowerflange for'securing the device to the cover or. other'clement to whichit is attached. It is with-- in the purview of the invention to providemeans for attaching the device to the rings of the looseleaf binder soas to be detachable therefrom. It will be noted that the device is madefrom a single piece of material having means for accurately locating thetop and rearedge of the paper rela-l tive to the punching element andthat the punch" ing device is so constructed as to have.the paperaccurately guided between the punch element and the cutting die portiondisposed thereabove. Stop means are provided for limiting the downward:movement of the top flange to prevent the straining of the materialbeyond its elastic limit so that inexpensive materials may be employed fto maintain the cost of the punchat a minimum.

InFig. '7 Va fiuther form of the invention is illustrated, that whereintop and bottomportions 33 and 3d of a punching device are molded,stamped, or otherwise shaped to predetermined form .and securedtogetheralong the .abutting edges at 35, as by welding, riveting .or.the like, Embossed portions 35 are provided adjacent to the punch forguiding the paper thereover when inserted between the portions 33 and34. YThe portions 36 are spaced a sufficient Adistance each side of thepunch to permit the top portion 33 to deflect thereover to punch a holein a sheet of papier. Otherwise the punching device is the same as thatherein illustrated and described including the stop gauges and stopflanges thereof.

While the punching device may be employed alone for punching holes inpaper conforming to the location of rings in a predetermined typey ofbinder, the punching device is preferably attached to each of thebinders so as to be available at all times for punching sheets which areto be inserted therein. While the punching device was described hereinkas being made from sheet metal, it is to be understood that it may bem0lda sheet which includes a U-shaped sheet metal 4 ed or formed fromplastic or materials other than metals having the required amount ofresiliency. In any case, a unit punching device is provided which isinexpensive and positive in operation.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for punching holes in the edge of a sheet which includes aU-shaped sheet metal element formed from a single resilient metal sheetto have a bottom ilange, vertically disposed web and a top ilangedisposed above and spaced from said bottom flange, tubular punchesformed in and projecting upwardly from the bottom flange, said topflange being provided with apertures aligned and snugly engageable withsaid punches, said punches and valigned apertures being disposed inpairs which are spaced a predetermined distance from each other.

v2. A device for punching holes in the edge of a sheet which. includes aU-shaped sheet metal element formed from a single resilient metal `sheetto have a bottom flange, vertically disposed web and a top flangedisposed above and spaced from said bottom flange, tubular punchesformed in and projecting upwardly from the bottom flange, said topilange being provided with apertures aligned and snuglyengageable withsaid punches, said punches and aligned apertures being disposed in pairswhich are spaced a predetermined distance from each other, and vtabsstruck up from said bottom flange and disposed adjacent to said punchesfor guiding a sheet thereover when inserted between the flanges.

3. A device for punching holes in the Vedge of a sheet which includes aU-shaped sheet metal element formed from a single resilient metalV sheett-o have a bottom flange, vertically .disposed web and a top flangedisposed above and spaced from said bottom flange, tubular punchesprojecting upwardly from the bottom flange, said top flange beingprovided with apertures aligned and snugly engageable with said punches,struck-A up tabs adjacent to said punches for guiding` a sheet thereoverwhen inserted between the ilanges, and projections on said upper flangealigned with said tabs for limiting the degree of movement of theflanges toward each other.

4. A device for punching holes in the edge .of a sheet which includes aLJ-shaped sheet metal element formed Afrom a single resilient metalsheet to have a bottom flange, vertically disposed web and a top flangedisposed above and spaced from said bottom. flange, tubular punchespro,- jecting upwardly from the bottom flange, said top flange beingprovided with apertures aligned and snugly engageable with said punches,struckup tabs adjacent to said Ipunches for guiding av sheet thereoverwhen inserted between the flanges, projections on said upper flangealigned with said tabs for limiting the degree of movement of theflanges toward each other, and aligned tabs extending upwardly from thebottom flange and downwardly from said upper` flange inwardly from saidweb for positioning the rear edge of a sheet relative to the punches.

5. A device for punching holesv in the edge of element formed from asingle resilient metal sheet to have a bottom flange, verticallydisposed web and a top flange disposed above and spaced fromsaid bottomflange, tubular punches projectingA upwardly from the bottom flange,said top flangebeing provided with apertures aligned and snuglyengageable with said punches, struck-up tabs adjacent to said punchesfor guiding a sheet thereover when inserted between the flanges.projec-` tions on said upper flange aligned with said tabs for limitingthe degree of movement of the anges toward each other, aligned tabsextending from said flanges for positioning the rear edge of a sheetrelative to the punches, and additional means for positioning the topedge of the sheet relative to the punches for accurately locating theholes in the sheet.

WILLIAM F. KLEMM.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lippincott Sept. 19,1882 Number Number 6 Name Date Seheen July 9, 1889 Dick Apr, 14, 1891Alexander Feb. 1, 1916 Cooke Oct. 10, 1916 Arcus Sept. 11, 1917 CookeNov, 19, 1918 Stenquist Jan. 21, 1919 Lackner Feb. 15, 1921 Smith Aug.21, 1923 Gail Aug. 19, 1924 Keene Dec. 29, 1925 Schade Jan. 11, 1938Hammen Dec. 6, 1938 Wagner Dec. 26, 1939 Lippincott Feb. 27, 1945

